Re: Initiative - was RE: Piquet

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:31:27 -0400, Laserlight <laserlight@quixnet.net>
wrote:
> > > iii) Fire on Enemy in Open
> >
> > Ok dumb question maybe, but why only in the open?
> 
> Apparently one of the key things squad leaders do is point and say
> "shoot!"  If your un-commanded squad doesn't have anyone carrying out
> this function, I'm assuming that either they don't fire (following the
> "if we don't bother them, maybe they won't bother us" approach) or
> their fire is ineffectual.

Excuse?  This is not true for decent troops.  I have heard a story
about one of the guys here who they keep joking needs his RPG
qualification badge.  Seems he not only nailed an RPG team entire
before anyone else knew they were there, but as he was a vehicle
driver and armed with a 9mm pistol, he resorted to using an RPG the
unit had found lying on the side of the road.

The idea that soldiers will not fire without orders is an artifact of
SLA Marshall's Men Against Fire and is countered by decent training. 
Which none of the major powers in WWII had time for before shoving
riflemen into the line.

John